Hinge construction



Dec. 18, 1962 D. vHEYER HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

aA/Ey United gratas @attent $68,508 HINGE CNSTRUCTEN Don Heyer, El Monte, Calif., assigner to M and H Industries, a corporation of California Filed May 4, 1959, Ser. No. 810,302 15 Claims. (Cln S16-16S) This invention relates to hinges, particularly the type in which the hinge plates are stamped from sheet metal stock, with knuckles thereon for reception of hinge pins of predetermined diameter.

Hinges made in the manner above noted often vary as to the diameter of the bores through the knuckles, usually with the bores having a diameter too small to accommodate the pins, and in some instances with misalignment of the bores. Accordingly, it has been the practice to run drills through the bores to size and align them for reception of the hinge pins. This variation in diameter and misalignment of the bores in the knuckles may be caused by the variation in the thickness in the metal stock of which the plates and knuckles are formed, as well as by reason of the forces to which the metal is subjected in the stamping and forming operations. A small increase in thickness of the stock metal of which the knuckles are formed will produce an appreciable reduction of the diameter of the bores of the knuckles.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a new construction for hinges of the character described which eliminates the necessity of drilling out the bores in the knuckles, simplifies the assembly operations and makes possible a large quantity production of improved hinges at a lower cost than heretofore.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved hinge construction of the character described in which a more reliable anchoring of the hinge pins and a better bearing for the movable hinge knuckles are provided, thereby assuring that the pins will be retained in position affording a smooth and easy hinge action free from objectionable friction and sagging or other irregular movement of the movable hinge plate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel form of hinge pin which will reliably eect the desired sizing and alignment of bores of the knuckles and provide a properly centered bearing portion upon being forced into a predetermined position in bores of related knuckles.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a hinge pin which is characterized by radially extended enlargements axially spaced thereon so that the portion of the pin between the enlargement will serve as a bearing for a movable knuckle of the hinge, while the enlargements, as a result of being forced into the bores of related knuckles, will not only maintain the pin properly centered to assure a reliable bearing for the movable knuckle, but will securely anchor the pin against axial displacement.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hinge pin of the character described having a novel form of broach means thereon which when the pin is inserted into bores of associated knuckles will readily size the bores for proper reception and retention of the pin without requiring that the bores be drilled.

An additional object hereof is the provision of a hinge pin of the character described in which a pair of broaches are formed in axially spaced relation thereon in a manner assuring the proper sizing of the bores of the knuckles, as well as the anchoring of the pin upon insertionof the latter into the bores of the knuckles.

A further object hereof is the provision of a hinge pin of the character described wherein the broach means adjacent one end of the pin and an enlarged anchoring portion adjacent the other end of the pin provide therebetween a bearing portion which is properly centered and retained in the bores of the knuckles upon insertion of the pin into the bores `of related knuckles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

=FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hinge structure embodying the present invention with the knuckles shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved hinge pin forming part of the hinge shown in FIG. 1;

FlG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical' sectional view of a plurality of the hinge knuckles of the hinge shown in FIG. l, and showing how a hinge p-in embodying this invention is positioned in preparation for being lforced into bores of the knuckles;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing how a hinge pin embodying this invention is operated to broach a bore through one of the knuckles;

' FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 1 showing how a hinge pin is iinally positioned in the hinge in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

A hinge construction embodying the present invention according to the illustrative example thereof shown in the drawings, generally includes a hinge plate 1 adapted to be stationarily mounted to support a movable hinge plate 2. The plate l is provided with a series of knuckles 3 between which knuckles 4 on the movable plate 2 are movably mounted by means of a pair of hinge pins 5.

As hereinbefore pointed out, in the formation of hinges that are stamped from sheet metal stock with the knuckles formed to accommodate hinge pins of given diameter, it frequently happens that the metal stock varies in thickness or is caused to vary by the stamping and'forming operation thereof, with the result that in most cases the diameter of the bores thereof is too small properly to accommodate the hinge pins. Accordingly, the pins 5, as here shown, are constructed so that when they are forced into the bores of the knuckles they will broach the bores to proper size and align them best to receive the pins and maintain them properly centered, thereby eliminating the drilling of the bores heretofore required.

It is also desired that the pins 5 be constructed so that they will become securely anchored in the bores of the knuckles upon being forced into such bores and will become properly centered in the bores to serve as effective bearing portions for the movable knuckles of the hinge. For these purposes, each pin 5 is provided at one end with a head 6 and at its other end with an enlarged diameter formation 7 which latter serves as broaching means and as means for restraining axial displacement of the pins. In addition, each pin is provided adjacent the head 6 with an enlarged diameter formation 8 which is of such diameter that it will securely anchor the pin in place when forced into the broached bore of a fixed knuckle 3. Positioned in this manner, the enlarged portion 8 will cooperate with the portion 7 to anchor the pin in place and to center the bearing portion 9 of the pin between the enlarged formations, so that this portion will serve as a reliable bearing for smooth hinge action of a movable knuckle 4.

The enlarged diameter formation 7 on each pin is provided on a reduced diameter portion l@ of the pin extending axially thereof from the end opposite the end on which the head 6 is formed. The outer end of this ceases reduced diameter portion is beveled as at 11 and next adjacent thereto is an annular and rounded guide flange 12 which with the beveled end facilitates entry of the pin into bores of the knuckles while the guide flange 12 centers the pin. The guide flange 12 may be of approximately the same or somewhat smaller diameter than bearing portion 9 of the pin.

That portion of the enlarged diameter portion 7 which serves as breaching means is axially spaced from the guide flange 12 and formed on the reduced portion 10, being of somewhat greater diameter than that of the bearing portion 9 of the pin so that it will have the desired breaching action. The breaching means may constitute, as here shown, a pair of axially spaced annular breaching elements 14 and 15. The element 14 has an interrupted breaching edge, whereas the element 15 inwardly spaced from the element 14 has a continuous annular breaching edge. `With this arrangement the breaching action is divided between the two breaching elements so that the breaching element 14 entering first in a bore is not required to carry the entire breaching load. The diameter of the breaching element 14 is greater than that of the bearing portion 9 of the pin and may be equal to that second breaching element 15, which latter is also of greater diameter than the portion 9, although these differences in diameter are comparatively slight, being of the order of one or more thousandths of an inch. In this connection, it should be noted that the diameter dierences indicated in the drawing are exaggerated for the sake of clarity of illustration.

The enlarged diameter formation 8 adjacent the head 6 of each pin 5 may, as here shown, be knurled as at Sa so as to bite into the wall of the bore of the associated knuckle to anchor as well as to center the pin.

In assembling the hinge inaccerdance with this invention, the pins 5 are inserted into opposite ends of the row of knuckles 3 and d, entering rst the outermost knuckles 3 on the supporting hinge plate 1. FIG. 3 indicates how one of the pins readily may be entered into the bore of one of the knuckles 3 yby reason of the beveled end 11 and guide iiange 12. As these pins are forced into the bores of the outer knuckles 3 the breaching element 14 will breach the bore forming a series of longitudinal ribs and grooves indicated on an exaggerated scale in FIG. 6 and extending longitudinally of the bore. The rib formations are breached away by the second breaching element 15, thus providing a smooth bore of proper size through each of the knuckles penetrated by the pins.

When the pins 5 are driven home in the knuckles to the position indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the enlarged diameter portions 7 are forced tightly inte opposite ends of the bore of the center knuckle 3, whereas the enlarged diameter portions 8 `are correspondingly tightly fitted in the 4bores of the outermost knuckles 3. These enlarged portions cooperate to center the hinge pins in the movable knuckles 4, the bores of which latter having become lproperly sized, smoothed and aligned by the breaching elements 14 and 15 during the insertion of the pins therethrough. With the pins thus centered in properly sized and smooth lbores of the movable knuckles 4, it is seen that the hinge action will -be smooth and free from objectionable friction, as well as free from sagging or irregular movement of the movable hinge plate 2 such as 4would be occasioned if the pins and the bores in the knuckles 4 were not properly fitted and centered.

Another advantage of forming a hinge pin with the breaching means and the other enlargements in accordance with this invention is that the breaching means and the other enlargements Will always have a diameter in proportion to variations in the diameter of the pin stock as made by manufacturers of this stock with a tolerance of from 2 to 4 thousandths of an inch in diameter. Accordingly, each pin, regardless of this variation, will size the bores of the knuckles best to accommodate Ithe pin and assure that a smooth hinge action will be provided.

While specific structural details have been shown and described, it should be understood that changes and alterations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

l claim:

l. in a hinge including a movable hinge plate and a supporting hinge plate, each of which has knuckles thereon mounting a pair of hinge pins: the improvement wherein said pins are provided with enlarged portions axially spaced thereon as well as with bearing portions between said enlarged portions; said enlarged portions being frictionally held in the bores of the knuckles on said supporting hinge plate; and said bearing portions being disposed in the bores of the knuckles on said movable hinge plate.

2. In a hinge including a movable hinge plate and a supporting hinge plate, each of which has knuckles thereon mounting a pair of hinge pins: .the improvement wherein said pins are provided with enlarged portions axially spaced thereon as well as with bearing portions between said enlarged portions; said enlarged portions being frictionally held in the bores of the knuckles on said supporting hinge plate; said bearing portions being disposed in the bores of the knuckles on said movable hinge plate; and wherein one of said enlargements on each of said pins is in the form of a breach.

3. In a hinge including a movable hinge plate and a supporting hinge plate, each of which has knuckles thereon mounting a pair of hinge pins: the improvement wherein each pin has a head `at one end and a breach at its other end; said breaches on said pins being frictionally held in the bore of a knuckle on said supporting plate; portions of the pins ybetween said breaches and said head being disposed in the bores of the knuckles on said movable plate; and knurled portions on said pins ladjacent said heads frictionally engaged in bores of knuckles of said supporting plate to center said first named portions in said bores of said knuckles on said movable plate.

4. In a hinge including a movable hinge plate and a supporting hinge plate, each of which has knuckles thereon mounting a pair of hinge pins: the improvement wherein each pin has a head at one end, a breach adjacent the other'end of the pin, an enlargement adjacent said head and Aa bearing portion between said enlargement and said breach; said breaches and said enlargements being disposed and frictionally retained in bores of the knuckles on said supporting hinge plate; and said bearing portions being `disposed in the bores of the knuckles on said movable plate.

5. In a hinge including a supporting hinge plate and a movable hinge plate; said plates having knuckles in which a hinge pin is mounted: the improvement wherein said pin has a pair of enlargements axially spaced adjacent one end of the pin and a third enlargement adjacent the other end of the pin; a bearing portion -between said pair of enlargements and said third enlargement; said enlargements being `frictionally confined in the bores of knuckles on said supporting plate; and said bearing portion being disposed in the bore of a knuckle on said movable plate.

6. In a hinge including a supporting hinge plate and a movable hinge plate; said plates having knuckles in which a hinge pin is mounted: the improvement wherein said pin has a pair of enlargements axially spaced adjacent one end of the pin and a third enlargement adjacent the other end of the pin; a bearing portion between said pair of enlargements and said third enlargement; said enlargements being frictionally confined in the bores of knuckles on said supporting plate; and said bearing portion being disposed in the bore of a knuckle on said movable plate; one of said enlargements on said pin being in the form of a breach.

7. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles on movable and supporting hinge plates: said pin having a bearing portion between the ends thereof adapted to be positioned in the bore of a knuckle on said movable plate; a broach on one end of the pin constructed to be passed through the bores of knuckles on said plates so as to enlarge the bore in at least one of said knuckles and to be frictionally held in the bore of a knuckle on said support ing plate and the material of said pin being upset at the other end of the pin to provide an enlargement extending longitudinally of the pin and which is adapted to be frictionally engaged in the bore of a knuckle of said supporting plate.

8. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles on movable and supporting hinge plates; said pin having a pair of enlarged portions `axially spaced adjacent one end of the pin and a third enlargement adjacent the other end of the pin; a bearing portion between said pair of enlarged portions and said third enlargement; said bearing portion having greater extent longitudinally of said pin than any one of said enlarged portions; and a head on said other end of said pin; said third enlargement being knurled and extending from said head to said bearing portion so as to be frictionally engageable within a bore of a knuckle on said supporting plate.

9. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles on movable and supporting hinge plates: said pin having on one end thereof a pair of axially spaced broaches; a head on the other end of the pin; an enlargement on the pin extending longitudinally from the head; a bearing portion of less diameter than said enlargement extending from said enlargement to one of said broaches; said broaches and said enlargement being adapted to frictionally engage the walls of bores of knuckles on said supporting plate to hold said bearing portion centered in the bore of a knuckle of said movable plate.

10. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a reduced end portion; a knurled enlargement on the other end portion of said pin; an annular guide flange on said reduced end portion; a pair of broach elements on said reduced end portion; and a bearing portion of uniform diameter occupying the major portion of said pin and disposed between said broach elements and said knurled enlargement.

l1. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a reduced end portion; a head on the other end portion of said pin; a knurled e11- largement extending from said head for insertion into one of the knuckles of one of said plates; an annular guide flange on said reduced end portion; breaching means on said reduced end portion inwardly spaced from said guide ange; said breaching means including a pair of broaches axially spaced one from the other; and a bearing portion between said knurled enlargement and said broaching means; said bearing portion having -a length greater than that of said knurled enlargement.

12. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a reduced end portion;

a head on said pin; a knurled enlargement extending along sai-d pin from said head; an annular guide flange on said reduced end portion; broaching means on said reduced end portion inwardly spaced from Vsaid guide ange; said broaching means including `a pair of broaches axially spaced one from the other; the broach that is nearer to the guide flange having an interrupted breaching edge; and a bearing portion between said knurled enlargement and said broaehing means; said bearing portion having less diameter than said broaching means and being of greater length than said enlargement.

13. A hinge pin for insertion into the bores of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a bearing portion between its ends; a reduced portion at one end of said pin; a head on the other end of said pin; an enlargement between said head and said bearing portion; a iirst broach means on said reduced end portion; said bearing portion having a length at least equal to the length of the bore of one of said knuckles; and a second broach means disposed on said reduced end portion in inwardly spaced relation to said rst broach means.

14. A hinge pin for insertion into the bore of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a bearing portion between its ends; a reduced portion at one end of the pin; a guide portion on said reduced portion; au annular broach on said reduced portion spaced inwardly from said guide portion and having an interrupted breaching edge; a second annular broach on said reduced portion spaced inwardly of said iirst named broach and having a continuous breaching edge; and a knurled enlargement at the other end of said pin having the knurls extending longitudinally of the pin and at least equal in length to one of said knuckles.

l5. A hinge pin for insertion into the bore of knuckles of hinge plates: said pin having a bearing portion between its ends; a reduced portion at one end of the pin; a guide portion on said reduced portion; an annular broach on said reduced portion spaced inwardly from said guide portion and having an interrupted breaching edge; an enlarged portion at the other end of the pin adapted to be inserted into a bore of one of the hinge knuckles; said enlarged portion having knurls disposed to bite into the wall of the knuckle in which said enlarged portion is adapted to enter; and a second broach on said reduced portion spaced inwardly from said lirst named broach and` having a continuous broaching edge.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,771 Shannon Dec. 8, 1868 111,515 Clark Feb. 7, 1871 2,171,021 Atwood Aug. 29, 1939 2,358,728 Miller Sept. 19, 1944 2,510,076 Cockrell June 6, 1950 2,817,871 Ferry 7.--- Dec. 31, 1957 2,972,274 lBombard et al. Feb, 2,1, 1961 

